Grassley continues to take credit for bill he opposed

GRASSLEY CONTINUES TO TAKE CREDIT FOR BILL HE OPPOSED…. During the debate over health care reform, few, if any, policymakers played as absurd a role in the reform process as Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) of Iowa. From advancing demonstrably ridiculous claims to forcing needless delays to brazen hypocrisy and contradictions, the Iowa Republican was an obnoxious force. Given that he was the Senate Republicans’ point-man on health care, this was a problem.

It was pretty amusing, then, to see Grassley last month start to take credit for some provisions in the Affordable Care Act. In a press release, Grassley praised some of the effects of the legislation, and credited his own work for making these benefits possible.

Igor Volsky reports today that Grassley has done it again, “highlighting how the new law would help Medicare beneficiaries in rural Iowa.” This is from the conservative senator’s latest press release:

When doctors in states like Iowa are not fairly reimbursed for their services, it makes it difficult to recruit doctors and it makes it a challenge for them to keep their doors open to new Medicare patients. I worked successfully to improve Medicare payments to doctors in rural states like Iowa and, in turn, access for beneficiaries, as part of the health care reform enacted this year. I’ve previously won passage of legislation to help hospitals in rural America keep their doors open. [emphasis added]

Remember, Chuck Grassley repeatedly tried to kill the proposal, fought to prevent the Senate from debating it, fought to prevent the Senate from even voting on it, and repeatedly concluded that the law itself is unconstitutional.

But just in case any Iowans end up liking what’s in the new law, Grassley also wants folks to know some of the good stuff was his idea (even though he voted against the bill that included his ideas).